How to Keep Well 473 



Dangers to Health from Alcohol. It is a well-established 

 fact that people who indulge in the use of alcoholic drink show 

 less resistance to infectious diseases than those who do not use 

 it. Alcohol paralyzes the white blood corpuscles which are the 

 strongest guardians against infection that the body possesses. 



Laboratory and medical evidence shows that alcohol, if taken 

 regularly even in moderate quantities, lowers the power to resist 

 disease, and produces conditions in the kidneys and brain that 

 favor the development of Bright's disease and insanity. 



Child Welfare. One of the most promising factors tending 

 toward the prolongation of human life is the great interest now 

 taken in child welfare. Organizations like the Child Health 

 Organization of America are doing remarkable work in solving 

 problems connected with the care of children. It is estimated that 

 forty per cent of the children of our country need more or less 

 care of a public nature. Large numbers of children die each year 

 from common disorders, due largely to the fact that the parents 

 are not familiar with, or do not heed, the requirements of hygiene 

 and sanitation. 



Advice and assistance are needed in regard to the care of 

 children not yet of school age. The most practical solution yet 

 suggested for the aid of this class of children is the employment 

 of community nurses by local authorities. In the interest of 

 health there can be no doubt that a staff of such workers would 

 render invaluable service. 



Modern Surgery. The first important application of the 

 knowledge of germs in the field of surgery was made by Lord 

 Lister. Previous to Lister's time serious infection frequently 

 followed an operation, due to germs entering the wound both 

 during and after the operation. By constant application of germ- 

 killing solutions, Lister did much to free surgery of infection. 

 His method was known as antiseptic surgery. Its effectiveness 

 depended upon killing all germ life in and around the wound. 



Experience with antiseptic surgery led naturally to aseptic 

 surgery, a step in advance. This consists of operation under 

 perfectly sanitary conditions. Bandages, instruments, clothes, 

 and hands are made absolutely free from germs. No antiseptic 



